TEXT: "Osmin Micheän and Her Friends" 

FADE TO:

(NOTE: As a mid-budget doll, she will possess flexible jewelry-wire in her cloth body. Do NOT purchase another line.)

MCU: Osmin Micheän with one hand on her mouth and the other on her cheek; 'pensive' pose.

CU: Osmin Micheän; 'thinking' pose.
(NOTE: Mrm. L may be able to tilt the doll's head from behind.) 

CU: Osmin Micheän; 'aha!' pose.

MCU: Minimal animation; three 'walking' pose image to simulate Osmin taking 'steps' offscreen. 

SOUND: A violin, bowed as a tired sigh.

NARRATION: "Oh? What's the matter, Osmin?"

NARRATION: "Yes, please show us!"

ILLUSTRATION: Osmin is held up by a wire stand while another pair of gloved hands sews her clothes onto her. 

NARRATION: "Is that the day you were made, Osmin?"

SOUND: Violin, 'Mhm.'

NARRATION: "Oh! You stood so nice and still for the tailor, Osmin."

MCU: Osmin holds the picture book open, showing us the last two illustrations. 


CU: Tilt Osmin's head to the side and place a hand on her cheek to better show off her smile; 'demure joy' pose.

SOUND: Violin, 'Mhm!'

WIDE: Board of Design visionaries crowd around a set of cork boards. 

CU: Sketches and ephemera are pinned to the cork boards. 

MED: Supervisor stands over sketch artist. 

CU: The artist's sketch. Supervisor takes her pencil and corrects the line of the skirt.

CU: The corrected sketch is pinned to a board of finished designs

NARRATION: "All the latest trends are brought together by the Duchenar and Sons Company Visionaries." 

NARRATION: "Micheän's dress is nice, but can it be made nicer?"

CU: Doll's faces. MATCH between faces as much as possible, please. Uniformity is the point.

FADE TO:

B-ROLL: Workers in Casting prepare the molds for a pour.

CU: Mer Mornared performs his pour for us. 

MED: Micheän and her mittens in the foreground, Mornared in back. 

XCU: Micheän's mittens. 

XCU: Mornared's gloved hands peel the rubber mold from Micheän's face. 

MATCH: The head in Mornared's hands as he sands it down.

SOUND: Alternate plucked notes on cello with each new face.

NARRATION: "It is no trick of the maza—watch."

NARRATION: "Liquid porcelain is poured into the mold." 

NARRATION: "Have you ever worn mittens that were too tight? Have you seen the pattern left behind by the knit?"

NARRATION: "That is how we form Micheän's face."

MCU: Mrm. Nasero carrying the staked head to her work station. 

CU: Micheän's head with half the wefts sewn into the wig.

XCU: Nasero removes the heated rod from the newly formed curl.

XCU: Nasero uses her tiny brush to put pigment on the face.  

MCU: The head and wig from behind. Nasero turns it to show the finished face.

NARRATION: "Once the head is made perfect, Micheän goes to the specialists at Hair and Makeup." 

NARRATION: "See how the specialist braids and curls each lock individually. Just like the edocharei at Court!"

NARRATION: "Makeup must be applied by hand." 

NARRATION: "Why, Micheän! How lovely!"

B-ROLL: Members of the Assembly department sit by their respective treadles. 

XCU: Seamstress runs the body through her treadle machine. 

XCU: The holes on the upper thigh as the seamstress hand-sews them into place.

NARRATION: "While our dear Osmin receives the luxury treatment, the Assembly department sets straight to work."

NARRATION: "The body is sewn to reflect a fashionable figure." 

NARRATION: "Next, her arms, legs, and head are looped onto the body and made secure." 

NARRATION: "Are you ready for the final step, Osmin?"

MCU: ZOOM OUT on Min Ilmerezhen in her height-adjusted chair. She runs the large pieces through her treadle machine. 

CU: Min I's very deliberate in her stitching on the hem of the gown.

MED: Min I and the tailor as he drapes the half-finished dress. She holds his pin cushion.  

XCU: The tailor pins the dress tighter. 

NARRATION: "Every dress is sewn by hand, then altered by one of our tailors."

NARRATION: "This dress-maker ensures her stitches are neat, small, and even."

NARRATION: "The tailor allows Min Dressmaker to play assistant to-day."

NARRATION: "Osmin looks a little thin around the waist. Let's take the dress in."

B-ROLL: Masked and veiled workers in Assembly stand up from their stations at the end of the day. They place their hand kits under the treadle machine's desk all at once. 

MCU: Min I places her hand kit beneath the desk, too. 

B-ROLL: Min I stepping into the material selection line. 

NARRATION: "When the day is done, Osmin Micheän is placed in her box, ready to be unwrapped by some lucky little girl."

NARRATION: "But just because Micheän is ready to go to bed does not mean the Manufactory is." 

NARRATION: "Min Dressmaker still has to go home, eat her supper, and play with her siblings."

CU: Min I testing her handmade dress against her ragdoll.  

MCU: Merrem Firuzho sits and draws at the kitchen table while she waits for water to boil. 

CU: Firuzho's sketch work, preferably the set that features her design for an infant accessory. 

NARRATION: "Here she is at home. What are you doing, Min Dressmaker?"

NARRATION: "Oh! A ragdoll! Now she too can dress like Osmin Micheän!"

NARRATION: "Min Dressmaker's sister works in Assembly. With enough vision, she may one day work on the Board of Design." 

NARRATION: "See how she practices her sketching. Such straight lines!"

MATCH: The same parts-welder with the same letter, only now his mask takes on a shocked appearance.

MCU DOUBLE: A manufactory owner in a smiling mask congratulates one of his seamstresses. The seamstress bows in response. Her hair—a yarn wig—is wild and her shirtwaist untucked.

SPLITSCREEN, MCU AND MCU:
On one side of the screen stands the seamstress. On the other, the clockmaker. Both tap their chins in thought.

MED: Osmer Shariphar, in his Director's mask, waves to the audience. Up to three other people on set are welcome to mask up and join him.

FADE TO:

NARRATION: "Perhaps your employer believes you fit to pursue a valued client's interest."

NARRATION: "Whatever your reason, you are now met with the question of how one ought to present oneself before nobility."

NARRATION: "Fortunately, your neighbours at the Kinemeisei League of Lohaiso recognise the particular difficulty of your situation."

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LOHAIS-EVRESANEISE SHIRTWAIST MANUFACTORY 

AND THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF THE OLCHEVADA

presents"

TEXT: "AN APPROACH MOST NOBLE"

FADE TO:

CU: Gloved hands open a faucet and then wash with soap and water. 

MCU: Clockmaker cleans his mask-face with a rag. 

CU: Boiling water over a stove.

CU: Distilling water over time.

XCU: Mer Clockmaker's mask, some dirt rubbed on the face. 

XCU: Mer Clockmaker flexes his gloved and dirty hands. 

CU: Mer Clockmaker removes a nail pick from the breast pocket of his worn pajamas.

MCU: He mimes picking the dirt out from under his nails. 

NARRATION: "Your approach begins with the practice of good hygiene. Good hygiene is, after all, imperative."

NARRATION: "For no fewer than three days in advance, be sure to wash your hands and face with soft—not hard—water."

NARRATION: "Water can be made soft through boiling or distillation."

NARRATION: "A little ash on the cheeks says that a man is hard-working, but dirt on the hands is always unseemly." 

NARRATION: "Keep a nail pick on your person at all times, just in case." 

MED: Merrem Clockmaker, dressed in rags but with a smiling mask, mixes the powders together in a small bowl.

CU: Merrem Clockmaker taps a little vial of oil over the bowl. 

NARRATION: "Your spice of choice will surely freshen the breath! Wintergreen is recommended."

CU: He rubs the powder on his teeth.

CU: He picks up a boiled rag.

CU: He scrubs.

NARRATION: "Once the powder is applied, scrub thoroughly with a boiled rag." 

MCU: Now seated, he motions to pick up one of his tools—but ah! The coat!

CU: He folds his coat neatly.

CU: The coat is placed in a cabinet beneath his workbench. 

MCU: His coat secured, Mer Clockmaker appears to hum to himself as he works. 

FADE TO:

NARRATION: "A man of enterprise does not approach nobility without his morning coat." 

NARRATION: "While working, he folds and stores his morning coat in a safe location."

CU: The arms of his coat cover his shirtsleeves.

CU: There is no gap between his waistcoat and trousers.

MCU DOUBLE: Mid-conversation, Mer Parts-welder pulls a little watch from his pocket to check the time.

CU: The pocket-watch reads half-past seven. The watch is notably inexpensive, as is its chain.

MCU DOUBLE: Mer Parts-Welder places the watch back in his pocket. He and his Employer hear a knock at the door, right on time. They turn and bow to a figure offscreen.

FADE TO:

NARRATION: "His shirtsleeves are never visible. The hem of his waistcoat aligns with the waist of his trousers." 

NARRATION: "A pocket-watch and chain are a necessity for him, for they communicate that he values timeliness." 

NARRATION: "He does not worry about the price of these items, but rather purchases whatever is within his means." 

MCU: She checks her appearance in her portable mirror.
CU: She adjusts a few loose strands of yarn-hair.
CU: She tucks the mirror back into her waistcoat pocket.

FULL: Min Seamstress pats around her hips, ensuring that the hem of her shirt is neat beneath her skirt's waist.

Her coworkers, Merrem Threadpuller and Min Fastens-buttons, come out of the office.

CU: Merrem Threadpuller wears a handsome vest-and-jacket set.
CU: Min Seamstress admires her coworker's fashionable attire.

MEDIUM TRIPLE: Merrem Threadpuller takes Min Fastens-buttons by the hand and points to the younger woman's shabbier, mismatched clothes. She shakes her head as they exit the frame.

Min Seamstress rests her hand on her chin in a 'thinking' pose.

CU: A long flash of finished silk rests on the scrapping-table.

MCU: Min Seamstress takes the silk scrap and—
CU:—ties it beneath her shirt collar like a scarf.

MCU: Min Seamstress appears happy and confident with her new accessory.

NARRATION: A pocket mirror will allow you to check yourself for unruly locks of hair. Like a watch, it can be kept on a chain to ensure it is never lost.

NARRATION: A shirtwaist and walking skirt are more than suitable for the working woman.

NARRATION: While neither jacket or waistcoat are necessarily required, they do a great deal to smarten one's countenance!

NARRATION: Should one choose to wear them, however, one must be certain that they match the walking skirt in both material and colour.

NARRATION: A scarf around the neck creates a rather mindful appearance, does it not?

LOW-ANGLE REVERSE: Mer Employer welcomes her with a smile and a nod. We PAN LEFT as he gestures to Osmer Opportunity, who is silhouetted by light coming through the curtains.

MCU: Min Seamstress curtsies to Osmer Opportunity.

CU: Still in silhouette, Osmer Opportunity nods.

MCU DOUBLE: Min Seamstress and Osmer Opportunity sit on either side of Mer Employer's desk. The KEY LIGHT must be focused on Min Seamstress so that she is not lost in the light that keeps Osmer Opportunity in silhouette.

MCU DOUBLE: Mer Employer (frame right) comes around the desk so that he is next to Min Seamstress (frame left). He gestures conversationally.

MCU: Osmer Opportunity listens.

CU: Mer Employer must wear the mask that allows his toothy smile to be visible. Clear syrup will serve as the nervous sweat that drips down his face.

MCU DOUBLE: A delicate hand flies up to Min Seamstress's lips as she 'gasps.' She looks over in the direction of Osmer Opportunity (OS), then shakes her head at Mer Employer.

CU: Mer Employer in the 'embarrassed' mask.

MCU: Osmer Opportunity hands Min Seamstress a pamphlet to review. TILT DOWN and RACK FOCUS to the pamphlet, the cover of which reads "OPPORTUNITY."

MCU DOUBLE: Mer Employer watches Min Seamstress take the pamphlet. As she reads, she begins to hunch over.

Mer Employer taps her on the shoulder. She looks at him, confused.

He looks her up and down.

Once more, Min Seamstress 'gasps.' She straightens herself.

MCU: Osmer Opportunity nods.

MCU DOUBLE: Min Seamstress looks between Mer Employer and Osmer Opportunity. Finally, she nods enthusiastically.

FULL TRIPLE: Min Seamstress and Osmer Opportunity on opposite sides again. All rise.

Min Seamstress curtsies, and Osmer Opportunity bows.

NARRATION: "Do not approach your soon-to-be-acquaintance without first familiarising yourself with their title and lineage. Two rungs up the family ladder will do."

NARRATION: "Smile brightly, but not too widely, nor too often. Your teeth must flash no more than three times throughout the conversation.

Any more than that is not only rude, but ghastly."

NARRATION: "Furthermore, do not slump."

NARRATION: Forgiveness will be granted to those disfigured by circumstance, but one cannot expect this generosity to extend much further.

NARRATION: As a rule, you must aim to be every bit as upright as your noble counterpart, and they are guaranteed to have much more practice as you. 

FULL: Min Seamstress exits Mer Employer's office. Once she has closed the door, she falls back against it. She catches her breath.

FADE TO:

 NARRATION: Be sure to get plenty of rest ahead of time.

Mer Clockmaker checks the time on his pocket-watch.
XCU: The time reads 4:45.

MED DOUBLE: Mer Clockmaker looks up, past the kamera.

FULL: Osmer Opportunity stands and stares out the window, ears unreadable.

MED DOUBLE: Mer Clockmaker shows the watch to Mer Parts-Welder. They look at one another and then straighten.

They bow.

FULL: Osmer Opportunity turns just enough to give a slight, but nonetheless gracious, bow.

MEDIUM: Clockmaker and Parts-Welder roll up their diagrams.

Behind them, Osmer Shariphar (still in director's mask) approaches from offscreen with what appears to be a new set of diagrams under his arm.

He and the two men greet each other as acquaintances.

Min Seamstress, too, joins the party. She curties, and the men bow.

Osmer Shariphar motions for all to join him in the center of the frame.

Once they are all together, he unrolls his own diagrams to reveal that they are not, in fact, diagrams, but rather a large sign.

INSERT: The sign finishes unrolling to read "BEST OF LUCK!"

NARRATION: "If you cannot be considerate, then at least be concise."

NARRATION: "No matter the circumstance of our birth, we all share one desire: to make a positive impression on those around us."

NARRATION: "How noble is your approach? Can it be further improved?"